Discussion 1 Need Responseaccording To Janssen Wimmer Deljoo 201 ✓ Solved

Discussion 1: Need response According to Janssen, Wimmer & Deljoo, (2015 ), policy making is a complex procedure which involves many stakeholders and which is subdivided into different stages which are identifying the problem, agenda setting, formulating the policy, policy adoption and implementation of the policy and finally evaluating the policy. Through every stage, the roles of the stakeholders are different. Stakeholders are important in this process as they give their opinions on what they want from the policy and they usually contribute to the acceptance of the policies by the community. This is because their involvement leads to an improved rate to which the residents get to comprehend the aspects of the policy.

Their engagement also gives room for the airing out of many and varied alternatives for the policy. In the policy making, different stakeholders who may present contrasting opinions are involved and this provides room for solving their disputes. Thus, both the knowledgeable and those lacking participate. In the first stage, there is identification of the problem which requires the formation of a policy to address it. In this first stage, there is identification of the stakeholders who are to be involved in the policy making.

There is identifying those who will be involved and then taking time to properly know them well, then there is estimating the resources that will be spent so that they are included in this process. This stage is important as it determines the ways through which they will be involved in the policy making. In the subsequent stages for instance the policy formulation stage, the stakeholders are fully involved in the process (Sterling, Betley, Sigouin, Gomez, Toomey, Cullman, Malone, Pekor, Arengo, Blair, Filardi, Landrigan & Porzecanski, (2017)). This is because they offer their opinions. In this stage, stakeholders who may be skilled in that particular area are consulted so that the policy is well informed.

In evaluation of the policy, the residents who use the policy are involved in which they are asked to air their opinions on the impact of the policy. Discussion 2: Need Response Problem Identification is the first step in the process of solving our project. We need to start by knowing exactly what the problem is, how the product should be designed, and what is its purpose. Problem Identification is the ability to recognize which problems are likely to be encountered in a particular task. Problem Identification should be taught from the first grade, at least.

By the time they are in second grade, they should be able to recognize some of the problems they will face when solving the problems, they have learned but will probably find challenging in their careers. Moreover, the time they are in the third grade, we should be able to recognize some of the problems we will face when solving the problems, we have learned, but will probably find challenging in our careers. By the time they are in the fourth grade, we should have a high enough rate of success with the Problem Identification to be able to see what will be challenging to us, and what will not be challenging at all (Harland, 2019). Problem Identification is one of the objectives of a stakeholder’s engagement with the stakeholder group.

A stakeholder is a person who is not a direct employee of the organization and who is actively involved in a particular issue. Stakeholders may be a group, organization, r individual. The primary holder to determine the views of stakeholders and to gain the views of all stakeholders, in order to provide information and suggestions to the organization about how to address the issue. The focus is on identifying the priorities and priorities of stakeholder groups, and on the impact, these priorities will have on policy-making. A policy-making group is usually made up of representatives of a variety of stakeholders, each of whom is responsible for their own group's positions.

A government agency usually convenes a policy-making group and views of the agency regarding potential policy changes. The group must consider the interests of all stakeholder groups and not just those who are directly affected by the proposed policy change. The agency then considers the best policy changes to make and, if applicable, to implement (Cubillaâ€Montilla, 2019). Discussion 3: need response AGENDA SETTING: Agenda setting is an important aspect of the public policy process. Sudden, rare, and harmful events, known as focusing events, can be important influences on the policy process.

Such events can reveal current and potential future harms, mobilize people and groups to address the policy failures that may be revealed by such events, and open the “window of opportunity†for intensive policy discussion and potential policy change. Although the idea of focusing events is firmly rooted in Kingdon’s “streams approach†to the policy process, focusing events are an important element of most theories of the policy process. Stakeholders having different interests, compete against each other to earn their issues a place on the agenda and keep others' issues off the agenda. Competition arises because the agenda is finite in scope and the political system possesses limited means and resources, whereby a finite number of issues can be addressed, among all possible issues perceived by the political community as requiring public intervention.

POLICY FORMULATION: Policy formulation is the second stage of the policy process and involves the proposal of solutions to agenda issues. Congress, the executive branch, the courts, and interest groups may be involved. Contradictory proposals are often made. The president may have one approach to immigration reform, and the opposition-party members of Congress may have another. Policy formulation has a tangible outcome: A bill goes before Congress or a regulatory agency drafts proposed rules.

The process continues with adoption. A policy is adopted when Congress passes legislation, the regulations become final, or the Supreme Court renders a decision in a case. Some solutions might be something like: more highways were built in the 1950s, safer cars were required in the 1960s, and jailing drunk drivers was the solution in the 1980s and 1990s. Stakeholder analysis approach is used in the policy making environment. A stakeholder analysis is a tool to analyze the various actors and interests in an issue of public policy.

It examines the interest of stakeholders in relation to the policy and understand which stakeholders will be most influential. This analysis is useful in prioritizing their interactions with the major interest groups, especially those directly affected.

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Policy-making: The Role of Stakeholders in Every Stage

Introduction

Policy-making is a fundamental component of governance and societal development. It is a complex process that engages multiple stakeholders at various stages, from identifying issues to evaluating the effectiveness of implemented policies. Understanding the intricate dynamics between stakeholders and their contributions at each phase is essential for successful policy formulation and implementation. This discussion is rooted in the frameworks provided by Janssen, Wimmer & Deljoo (2015), and further insights gathered from various scholarly sources.

The Stages of Policy-Making

1. Identifying the Problem
The initial stage of the policy-making process is the identification of the issues that require intervention (Bardach, 2012). It is at this stage that the stakeholders are identified and their interests delineated. As Wimmer, Deljoo, and Janssen noted, stakeholder involvement is crucial because it fosters consensus-building and ensures that diverse perspectives are considered (Wimmer, Deljoo & Janssen, 2015). Stakeholders may range from government agencies, civil society organizations, and interest groups to ordinary citizens.
The process of problem identification is fundamental as it influences subsequent stages. Stakeholders need to recognize the underlying issues and articulate their concerns effectively (Cloonan & Mendez, 2016). Moreover, engaging stakeholders in this stage not only enhances the legitimacy of the identified problems but also improves the chances of successful policy acceptance within the wider community.
2. Agenda Setting
Once a problem has been identified, the next stage is agenda setting, which involves determining which issues gain priority within the policy framework. Kingdon’s (2014) "streams approach" suggests that focusing events—rare and significant incidents—can open windows of opportunity for policy change. Stakeholders' roles become apparent as they navigate the political landscape to push their interests onto the official agenda (Birkland, 2006).
In agenda setting, competition among stakeholders often arises as they vie for attention and resources (Cobb & Elder, 1983). The finite nature of the political agenda necessitates compromise and negotiation among diverse interest groups. Thus, engagement at this stage is pivotal to ensure that critical issues are not overlooked.
3. Policy Formulation
The policy formulation stage encompasses the development and proposal of solutions to the problems prioritized on the agenda (Peters, 2018). This is where stakeholders play a crucial role in offering expertise and recommendations based on their experiences and knowledge bases. Effective policy formulation requires collaboration among governmental entities, interest groups, and the general public (Linder & Peters, 1989).
For example, during discussions on healthcare reform, various stakeholders—including healthcare professionals, insurance companies, and patients—must provide input to create a well-rounded policy that addresses the needs of all affected parties (Gollust et al., 2018). The outcome is often a bill presented to legislative bodies or regulatory agencies, marking a critical transition to the adoption phase.
4. Adoption and Implementation
Policy adoption follows the formulation phase, during which legislatures or regulatory bodies decide on the proposed policies (Hacker & Pierson, 2010). This stage often requires extensive lobbying and advocacy from stakeholders to garner support and facilitate passage (Kersh, 2017). Implementation then involves the operationalization of adopted policies, which can involve both governmental and non-governmental actors.
The role of stakeholders remains crucial during implementation as they can monitor the adherence to policy objectives, offering continuous feedback, and advocating for adjustments if necessary (Gormley & Weimer, 1999). Stakeholder involvement helps ease the transition from theoretical concepts to practical applications, ultimately contributing to more effective policy outcomes.
5. Evaluation of the Policy
The final stage of the policy-making process is evaluation, where the effectiveness of the policy is assessed (Meldrum, 2016). In this stage, stakeholders—including those directly affected by the policy—are essential in providing insights regarding the impact and efficiency of the implemented policies (Asthana et al., 2019). Gathering feedback from users helps to identify strengths and weaknesses, informing necessary adjustments and future policy iterations.
Engaging stakeholders in the evaluation process not only enhances transparency but also fosters accountability within the governing bodies (Bardach & Patashnik, 2016). Through stakeholder participation, policy-makers can ascertain whether the original objectives have been met and whether the policy should be maintained, modified, or discarded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, stakeholder involvement at each stage of the policy-making process is vital for developing effective and sustainable policies. The initial identification of issues through consensus-building, setting the agenda through strategic advocacy, formulating relevant policies with expert input, and evaluating outcomes collectively contribute to a robust policy framework. As demonstrated through the guidelines laid out by Janssen, Wimmer, and Deljoo (2015), engaging a diverse array of stakeholders not only enriches the policy-making process but also enhances the legitimacy and acceptance of policies within the broader community.

References

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